Astrophotography can be easy! We’ll show you how with the affordable beginner-level Orion Adventures in Astrophotography Bundle. With this great combination of equipment, you can begin to take wide-field pictures of the night sky with a DSLR camera (camera sold separately). We’ve included everything but the camera, so you can begin capturing the night sky right away!

If you've been interested in a hobby of astrophotography, but also overwhelmed by all the different equipment options, this is the bundle for you! Orion has exactly what you're looking for, conveniently packaged together and priced affordably in our Adventures in Astrophotography Bundle

You don't need a lot of fancy gear to start taking shots of the night sky. With just a few key pieces of astronomy equipment, you can capture beautiful wide-field images of starry skies. The Orion Adventures in Astrophotography Bundle lets you take surprisingly detailed pictures of star fields, the Milky Way, or star-trails with a point-and-shoot or DSLR camera (camera not included). All you have to do is attach your camera to the Orion EQ-1 Equatorial mount and tripod with the included 1/4"-20 threaded adapter, then align the EQ mount with Polaris (the North Star) and start shooting! If you leave the camera shutter open for an extended exposure, you'll be rewarded with stunning star-trail images. If you'd rather capture wide-field astrophotos of starry skies and the cloudy Milky Way, you can add electronic tracking to the equation with the included EQ-1M electronic motor drive. The EQ-1M motor drive will slowly rotate the mount and your attached camera at the same rate the Earth rotates, so the stars in your image will be points of light instead of curvilinear star-trails. What’s more, taking long exposures of the night sky while tracking with the EQ-1M motor drive enables your camera sensor to detect the ethereal, cloudy features of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. You’ll be amazed at the detail that seems to pop out of nowhere when capturing a lengthy exposure of what appears to be a stark expanse of sky while tracking.

You, your friends and family will be amazed at the wonderful images this humble collection of gear allows you to capture with your point-and-shoot, SLR, or DSLR camera (camera not included). EQ-1M electronic motor drive powered by four D-cell batteries (not included).

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-447-1001.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Weight rating

The weight rating is a measure of how much the mount can handle before vibration become excessive. This specification is dependent on the shape of the telescope. For example, if you have two telescopes that both weigh 15 lbs., but one is a Cassegrain with a very short tube and the other is a very long focal length refractor, the Cassegrain will be more stable due to the fact that the tube itself is much shorter. The extra length of the refractor tube acts as a "lever arm" and vibrations become much more prominent. So be careful as you approach the weight capacity limit that you don't overload the mount with a very long tube.

Motor drive compatibility

A motor drive automatically moves the telescope in right ascension at the same rate as the east-west drift of the stars so stars can be continuously tracked in the eyepiece without manual adjustment. Motor drives are usually equipped with a hand control that allows the telescope's tracking speed to be slightly increased or decreased, which is particularly critical when taking long-exposure astro-images.

Height range of mount

The height range specification is a measure of the tripod itself - not the eyepiece height. Since telescopes come in all shapes and sizes, the eyepiece height will vary, even when using the same tripod. For an EQ tripod the mount is set up so the counterweight shaft is horizontal, and then the height is measured from the ground to the center of the mounting plate.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

Orion offers a rugged, fully padded case to fit just about every telescope we stock. Each case provides an easy way to transport and store your telescope. Heavy-duty and water-resistant material, and fits the StarBlast 4.5 EQ and SpaceProbe 3 Altaz.

Ideal for use with smaller equipment payloads such as a DSLR camera or small telescope, the narrow 2.1lb counterweight will not make contact with the EQ-1M motor drive housing during extensive motorized tracking of celestial objects.

The Orion Ultrablock Narrowband Telescope Filter is perfect for the deep-sky observers located at highly light-polluted sites. This 2" filter blocks all forms of light pollution allowing you to see fainter deep-sky objects.

You've just bought your first telescope, but now what? The Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit is the perfect addition. This best selling kit includes a Star Target planisphere, Orion Telescope Observer's Guide book, Orion MoonMap 260, and more!

About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale direct to customers. Now an employee-owned company, we pride ourselves on an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee says it all.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, & reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!

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